Sliver-coiling apparatus for textile carding engines and other machines



Dec. 27, 1955 w. H. WATSON ETAL SILVER-COILING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILECARDING ENGINES AND OTHER MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1950Gm J k I g a mu I g a n .a s. a a u. y \N but, m a 4 m I III .Q Q Q I uk w N m a mm .a mm mm mm a L Q g y QQ Dec. 27. 1955 w. H. WATSON EI'AL2,728,113

SILVER-COILING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE CARDING ENGINES AND OTHER MACHINES4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16. 1950 Dec. 27. 1955 w. H. WATSON ETAL2,7

SILVER-COILING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE CARDING ENGINES AND OTHER MACHINES4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 16. 1950 D c- 27, 955 w. H. WATSON ElAL,728,

SILVER-COILING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE CARDING ENGINES AND OTHER MACHINESFiled Sept. 16, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent Ofilice2,728,113 Patented Dec. 27, 1955 SLIVER-COILING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILECARDING ENGINES AND OTHER MACHHNES William Harold Watson and .lasephOshaldeston, Helmshore, Rossendale, and-Leslie Buckley, Urmston, nearManchester, England, assignors to T. M. M. (Research) Limited,Helmshore-Rossendale, England Application September 16, 1950, Serial No.185,208

Claims priority, application Great Britain September 27, 1949 6 Claims.(Cl. 19-159) The invention is concernedwith sliver-coiling apparatus foruse in conjunction with such textile machinery as carding-engines,draw-frames, combers and the like from. which the treated fibres aredelivered in the form ofa sliver which is customarily coiled into acylindrical canor other receptacle preparatory to the next stage oftreatment in the processing of the fibres. The object of the inventionis to provide an improved form of coiling apparatus for use in thecircumstances described, as an alternative to the known form ofapparatus in which the coiling action is achieved by a precessionalmovement of the can or receptacle in which the sliver is received.

A sliver-coiling apparatus according to the invention comprisesa coilerguide element by which the uncoiled sliver is received, and means forimparting to said guide element'two'concurrent motions, i. e. aprecessional motion by which the sliver is laid in a continuous seriesof coils, and an orbital motion whereby the position of each successivecoil is progressively advanced along the orbit path.

The apparatus may comprise a coiler guide element constituted by twocomponents having inclined guide passages traversed successively by thesliver, the first ofsuch components being revolved concentrically abouta given axis (which may be the longitudinal axis of a cylindrical can),and the second component precessing upon an orbital path traced by theoutlet of the passage in the first component, and the arrangementpreferably being such thatthe outlet of the inclined nent' alwayscoincides with the inlet of the inclined passage in the secondcomponent.

Alternatively, the apparatus may comprise a single inclined coiler guidesubjected to the action of separate mechanisms respectively producingthe concurrent precessional and orbital motions requisite'to deliver thesliver in a coiled formation of which each successive coil is displacedlaterally in relation to the preceding coil.

In both the aforesaid forms of the apparatus the lead or displacement ofone coil in relation to the preceding coil is measured by the arcuatedistance travelled by the axis'of precessional rotation along the pathof the orbital movement. If desired, such leadmay be made equal to thethickness of the sliver, in order to achieve a closely packeddisposition of the coils in the can, and it can be varied by suitablyregulating the relative angular speeds of precessional and orbitalrotations.

The manner in which the invention is carried into effect is hereinaftermore fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. lof such drawings is a sectional elevation of one form of coilingapparatus, the section being taken on the vertical centre-line; Fig. 2is a plan, partly in section, of the coiling apparatus seen without theupper cover and sliver-plate; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on theline IIIIII of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 1, illustratinga modified embodiment of the invention.

The apparatus depicted in Figs. 1 to 3 includes a stapassage in thefirst compotionary frame of which a part is shown at 1 and which carriesa two-part cover arranged to enclose the coiling mechanism. The part 2of said cover is pivoted at 4 on the frame 1 and the part 3 of the coveris pivoted at 5 on the part 2, the arrangement being such that the.entire cover 2, 3 can be raised by a lip which forms the left handextremity of the cover part 2 to reveal. the mechanism when desired. Asimilar lip which. forms the left hand extremity of the cover part 3'may be used'to lift the'cover part 3 independently of the part 2. Asliver guide 6 is supported upon the cover part 3. A conventionalsliver-plate 7, which incorporates a trumpet-guide 8, is pivoted to thecover part 3 at 9. The sliver plate is provided with a lip by which itmay be raised'independently of the cover parts 2 and 3. A catch 10 isalso pivoted at 5 in such position that when the cover part 3' is raisedsaid catch may be engaged behind a projecting part 11 of said part 3 forthe purpose of supportingthe latter in its raised position.

The frame 1 also supports a bearing 12 for a vertical driving-shaft ofwhich the upper extremity is. shown at 13. Said shaft 13 bears a fixedbevel gear 14 which meshes with a bevel gear 15 on a horizontal shaft16. A second horizontal shaft 17 is geared to the shaft. 16 throughpinions 18', 19, and'the two shafts respectively carry the calenderrolls 2t), 21 which are thus rotated in opposite directions to deliversliver fed through. the trumpet-guide 8 to the coiling mechanism. Theshaft 16 is supported by bearing brackets 22 which are mounted on theframe 1, and the shaft 17 is supported by a bracket 23 which forms partof a lever 24 mounted with capability of movement about a vertical-axison a stud 25which is carried on the frame. A spring 2b serves normallyto urge the roll 21 into rolling'contact with the roll 20'. (For thesake of clarity, the me'mbers22', 23, 24, 25"and 26 are omitted fromFig. 1.)"

The coiling mechanism consists of the two part coiler guide and themeans provided for its operation asbereinafter described. The guidecomprises two independent components 27 and 28, respectivelyprovidedwith inclined guide-passages 29 and 30 which extend betweentheir upper and lower surfaces. The two passages 29'and 30 togetherconstitute an' inclined duct through which the sliver delivered by therolls 20, 21' is led to the can. of which the open top is indicated at31.

The frame 1 supports a ball-bearing 320m which is rotatably mounted anannular gear-wheel 33. Said annulus 33' includes a ball-bearing 34supporting a carrierplate 35, having a flanged lining sleeve or bushing.352i upon whichis mounted the lower guide component 28. with capabilityof rotation relatively to the plate 35. about the eccentric axis X-X.Said plate 35 is itself. capable of rotation on the bearing 34 aboutthe. vertical. axis Y-'Y, hereinafter referred to as the orbital axis.Studs. 3512 (one shown) support a cover plate 350 fromthe plate. 35 forrotation in unison with the latter. A pinion. 3'6, affixed to thecomponent 28 meshes withan idler-gear. 37 which is fixed on a stud 38rotatable in a bracket 39 carried by the plate 35; a second idler-gear40 fixed on said stud 38 is arranged to mesh with the annular gear.-wheel 33, and this latter is driven through an idler. 41.

(Figs. 2 and 3) by a spur wheel 42 fixed on the. driving.

29 also intersects the axis X-'-X at the same'poi'nt. The

component 28 is capable of rotation about the axisX'X relatively to thecomponent 27, between which latter" and the plate 35 a drivingconnection is provided'by'the" engagement of an off-set or projectingportion 43 of the component 27 in a recess 44 in said plate, and a boss45 surrounding the lower extremity of the guide-passage 29 in thecomponent 27 is rotatably mounted in a corresponding recess 46 providedin the surface of the component 23 about the upper extremity of theguide-passage 30. The axis XX is hereinafter referred to as the axis ofprecession.

An intermittent rotation of the upper guide component 27 about theorbital axis Y-Y is effected by means of a cam 47 keyed on the drivingshaft 13 and arranged to actuate a bowl 43 mounted on the end of a lever49 which is rotatably mounted on the component 27. A tension spring t),stretched between said lever 6? and fixed bracket 51, serves to hold thebowl 4% constantly in contact with the cam 47, and the intermittentangular movement of the lever 49 in the anti-clockwise direction (asseen in Fig. 3) is communicated to the component 27 by a free-wheeldevice incorporating a roller 52 mounted between the periphery of theplate 53 which is fixed to the component 27 and an inclined face 54 onthe lever 49, the arrangement operating in known fashion to transmitanti-clockwise angular motion from the lever to the component 27, but toallow the lever freely to return under the spring 50, when the cam 47turns to the inoperative position. The clockwise motion of the component27 is positively prevented by a roller 55' mounted between the peripheryof said plate 53 and an inclined face 56 on the fixed bracket 51.

It will be seen that as the sliver issues from the passage 30 of thecomponent 28 it is laid in coils which owe their formation to theprecessional motion of the component 28, and that the effect of theintermittent orbital movement imparted by the cam 47 to the component 27is to traverse the rotational axis XX of the component 28 along anorbital path concentric to the axis Y-Y. By these means each successivecoil of sliver is laid slightly in advance of the preceding coil beingmeasured by the chordal length of the arc of the orbital path throughwhich the component 27 is rotated at each rotation of the cam 47.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in Fig. 4 differsfrom that already hereindescribed with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 to theextent that the coiler guide element comprises a single component towhich the mechanism imparts a continuous combined precessional andorbital movement. In this case the guide element 57 is provided at theupper extremity of the inclined passage 58 with a flared mouth 59capable of receiving a sliver delivered by the calender rollers 20, 21,the lower end of said passage 58 being located above the cylindrical can31 into which the sliver is to be coiled. Said element 57 is adapted forrotation on the ball-bearing 60 about the axis of precession XX, saidbearings 60 being mounted on an annulus 61 (hereinafter referred to asthe carrier annulus) which is itself mounted for rotation about the axisof orbital rotation YY, which latter axis coincides with thelongitudinal axis of the cylindrical can 31.

The said carrier annulus 61 carries a peripheral gearring 62 and alsocarries a second bearing 63 on which is rotatably mounted a secondannulus 64 (hereinafter referred to as the gear annulus) which isfurnished with an internal spur gear 65 which meshes at one point withan external pinion ring 66 on the periphery of the sliverguide element57. The gear annulus 64 is also furnished with an external spur gear 67which meshes with a pinion 68 fixed on the vertical drive-shaft 13,rotation of which produces the precessional rotation of the sliverguideelement 57 about the axis XX through the medium of the gear annulus 64.

The aforesaid peripheral gear-ring 62 on the carrier annulus 61 isarranged to mesh through the medium of a reduction train, comprising anidler 69, a pinion 70 loose on the shaft 13, and an internal gear-ring71 on said pinion 70, with a pinion 72 mounted eccentrically on thedrive-shaft 13. Said eccentric pinion 72 is fixed to a companion pinion73 which is in mesh with a fixed internal spur gear 74 concentric withthe drive-shaft 13. The eccentric pinion 72 is compelled to rotate byreason of the combined effect of its eccentric mounting on thedrive-shaft 13 and the abutment of its companion pinion '73 with saidfixed spur gear 74, and the resultant motion is transmitted through thereduction train 71, and 69 to the carrier annulus 61 imparting to thesliver guide element 57 an orbital rotation concurrent with theprecessional rotation of the element 57 relatively to such annulus 61.The reduction ratio of the gear train 69, 76 and 71 can be altered tovary the relative speeds of orbital and precessional rotation and, bythus altering the point at which each coil is commenced by a freshprecessional rotation, it is possible to adjust the lead or overlap ofsuccessive coils.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A sliver-coiling apparatus comprising a coil laying guide element bywhich the sliver is received, directed toward a receptacle, and laid ina succession of coils, said element having a defined rotary axis,mechanism supporting and driving the element so that its rotary axis iscaused to travel in a defined path about a fixed axis external to itsown axis, and mechanism for concurrently driving the element about itsown axis to produce a precessional motion, the resulting compound motionof the guide element causing the sliver to be laid in a continuousseries of coils with the position of each successive coil progressivelyadvanced along the orbital path.

2. A sliver coiling apparatus comprising a coil laying guide element bywhich the uncoiled sliver is received and laid in a succession of coils,said element having a defined rotary axis, an introductory guide elementmounted for rotation about a fixed axis, means driving said introductoryguide element about said axis, mechanism supporting the first-mentionedguide element with its defined axis concentric to said fixed axis,mechanism for driving the coil laying guide element about said fixedaxis in unison with the introductory guide element, and mechanism forconcurrently driving the first mentioned guide element about its ownaxis to produce a precessional motion, the two guide elements havinginclined communicating passages which are successively traversed by thesliver, the first leading outward from the fixed axis and communicatingwith the second through an axial portion of the coil laying guideelement.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the precessional motion ofthe coil laying guide element is continuous, the driving mechanismtherefor comprising a constant speed driving shaft and lineartransmission gearing, whilst the orbital motion of the other guideelement is intermittent, the driving mechanism therefor comprising auni-directional gear and a cam-oscillated operating lever therefor.

4. A sliver coiling apparatus comprising a coil laying guide element bywhich the uncoiled sliver is received and laid in successive coils, arotary carrier for said element, mechanism for driving said carrierabout a fixed axis, said carrier supporting the guide element withcapacity for rotary movement about an axis which is eccentric withrespect to said fixed axis, an introductory guide element mounted forrotation about said fixed axis, mechanism for driving said introductoryguide element in unison with the carrier, mechanism for concurrentlyrotating the coil laying guide element about its own axis to effect aprecessional movement, the two guide elements having inclinedcommunicating passages which are successively traversed by the sliver,the first passage leading through said introductory guide element fromthe fixed axis outward and communicating constantly with the secondpassage which extends through the coil laying guide element in the axialregion of said coil laying guide element.

5. A sliver-coiling apparatus comprising a coiler guideelement by whichthe uncoiled sliver is received, and means for imparting to saidguide-element two concurrent motions, i. e., a precessional motion abouta movable axis by which the sliver is laid in a continuous series ofcoils, and an orbital motion about a fixed axis whereby the position ofeach successive coil is progressively advanced along the orbit path, theguide element being formed with a converging receiving mouth intersectedby the fixed and movable axes and a communicating inclined deliverypassage.

6. A sliver-coiling apparatus comprising a coiler guideelement by whichthe uncoiled sliver is received, and means for imparting to saidguide-element two concurrent motions, i. e.,a precessional motion abouta movable axis by which the sliver is laid in a continuous series ofcoils, and an orbital motion about a fixed axis whereby the position ofeach successive coil is progressively advanced along the orbit path, theguide element being formed with a converging receiving mouth intersectedby the fixed and movable axes and a communicating inclined deliverypassage, the supporting mechanism of the coil laying guide elementcomprising a first or carrier annulus rotatable about the fixed axisreferred to, the drive mechanism for producing the precessional movementof the guide element comprising a rotary drive shaft and a gear annulusconcentric with said carrier annulus and connected to said precessionalmechanism for driving the element about its own axis and the mechanismfor driving the guide element about a fixed axis consisting of anindependent gear drive from said shaft to the carrier annulus.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

